Why Michigan is the leader of transportation mobility

Michigan stands at a historical threshold as the preeminent place for automakers and auto suppliers, along with entrepreneurs and innovators who are leading the way in the mobility revolution. The state’s economic and cultural history, as well as the vast number of resources available, make Michigan the undisputed global capital of mobility and the place to be for businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs looking to shape the next transportation frontier.

Transportation industry and R&D

Nowhere in the world is there a better industrial landscape for auto and mobility related business than Michigan. The state is the No. 1 U.S. vehicle producer and several auto manufacturers and suppliers are based here or have a major presence here. This includes:

Seven global or North American research and development (R&D) headquarters

Innovative talent ready for the mobility industry

Michigan is ranked No. 1 nationally in concentration of industrial and mechanical engineers, as well as R&D professionals at 3.5 times the national average. Michigan is also leading the nation in its approach to skilled-trades labor, with a workforce of more than 250,000.

There are also several university programs at numerous notable and nationally ranked Michigan universities:

Kettering University

Michigan State University

Michigan Technological University

University of Michigan

Washtenaw Community College

Wayne State University

One of a kind smart infrastructure

The largest deployment of freeway and surface street Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) technology in the United States can be found in Michigan. This includes the construction of 120 miles of a technology-enabled “smart corridors” that will span I-96, I-696, I-94, and US-23. Smart corridors use cameras, sensors and the power of big data to help drivers stay safer, avoid construction, and spend less time in traffic.

Michigan has the first connected vehicle technology freeway work zone in the nation — made possible through a partnership between 3M and Michigan’s Department of Transportation.

World-class testing facilities for mobility technologies

Michigan is also home to two permanent and purpose-built autonomous vehicle testing sites. Nowhere else in the U.S. has resources like these facilities:

Mcity, a 32-acre, advanced mobility R&D center, opened in 2015 at the University of Michigan to test connected and autonomous technology. Mcity simulates the broad range of complexities vehicles encounter in urban and suburban environments. It includes approximately five lane-miles of roads with intersections, traffic signs and signals, sidewalks, benches, simulated buildings, street lights, and obstacles such as construction barriers.

The American Center for Mobility (ACM), serves as a national center for connected and automated vehicle (CAV) research, testing, product development, validation, and certification facility. At more than 500 acres, ACM is used by government, industry, and academia to create and set industry standards and offers diverse driving areas such as a high-speed loop, off-road, urban, rural, residential and commercial environments. The ACM celebrated its grand opening in April 2018.

A leader in legislation

Michigan leads the nation in patents relating to navigation and smart mobility and in 2016, Governor Rick Snyder signed a package of bills making self-driving vehicles legal on state roads. In addition, there are related amendments including the creation of the Michigan Council on Future Mobility to continually update policy makers on future changes needed to remove statutory and regulatory barriers. Together, this allows the state’s mobility industry to grow and test technologies in real-world conditions and situations.

Providing connections to accelerate the future of transportation

These innovation and assets create an ecosystem throughout Michigan that will continue to strategically advance the global mobility industry. At PlanetM, we connect current partners and emerging businesses and entrepreneurs alike to accelerate these technologies even further. To learn more about PlanetM’s services, click here.

To learn more or to get involved with PlanetM, please contact us and a PlanetM team specialist will be in touch.